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In the press materials for “Critical Thinking,” producer Carla Berkowitz drops this line about her reaction to reading the true story that inspired the film: “The image and story was haunting and I felt like I had a quantum shift in my perception of chess and who plays it.” The who in question are five Miami-area Black and Latino men who, along with their teacher, Mr. Martinez, brought back to their underprivileged Florida neighborhood the U.S. National Chess Championship. This happened in 1998. The film chronicles the loving camaraderie of the players and the events leading up to their victory.

In that same press release, acclaimed writer and actor John Leguizamo , who plays Martinez and also directs, states that he wanted to make this film because there were very few representations of Latin people on-screen when he was growing up. He also mentioned that the book The Bell Curve harmfully depicted people of color as being mentally inferior due to our genetics. I wondered if, like me, Leguizamo grew up in an environment where the Black and brown people he knew played chess, so that it wouldn’t seem unusual nor an anomaly that they did. Because Berkowitz’s statement really made me consider what exactly the standard issue chess player was supposed to look like.

Chess has appeared in a lot of movies, from Boaz Yakin ’s “ Fresh ” to Steven Zaillian ’s “Searching for Bobby Fisher” to 2016’s superb Mira Nair film, “ Queen of Katwe .” I even remember it being prevalent in a crappy Gary Coleman TV movie about a smart Black kid. The game always carries the same symbolic qualifier: the person who plays it has a mental capacity for strategy and is intelligent. Chess is often employed to teach life lessons in these movies, to the point where it has become a cliché that just so happens to be used differently depending on who’s playing it. This difference is something that I admit often sticks in my craw, so I found myself wrestling a bit with this movie even though it seemed to be addressing my concern.

Unlike Zaillian’s film, which I guess answers my question of what a “standard issue” chess player is supposed to look like, the protagonists in the other films I’ve mentioned, and in “Critical Thinking,” are people of color whose economical circumstances are far from ideal. This tends to be the model when minorities are seen playing chess in films, which bends the cinematic chess player cliché toward making the ability to play the game the audience’s reason to offer empathy. Sure, they’re broke, probably in crime-ridden areas and may even do a crime or two, but see, they’re smart, so it’s OK to feel for them! This line of thinking has to do with who stereotypically plays chess and who does not.

Leguizamo’s Mr. Martinez speaks to this early in “Critical Thinking” by asking why chess is never associated with brown people despite a Latin man playing a major role in its evolution. “Why don’t you think we know about him?” he asks the students in his critical thinking class before delivering a great, pointed monologue that speaks about how history is taught in schools. The script by Dito Montiel has some sharp commentary about the education system, from what gets funded to the over-reliance on test scores to the differences between Martinez’s inner city school and the posh preppy institutions who fall victim to our heroes on the tournament circuit. There’s a bit more bite than you may be expecting, and the writing is just prickly enough to balance out the moments when the film dives headfirst into its tropes. And there are numerous tropes to swim in; not only is this a sports movie, it’s also an entry in the “Beloved Teacher” genre.

Our chess champion team is comprised of Sedrick Roundtree ( Corwin C. Tuggles ), Ito Paniagua (Jorge Lendeborg Jr.), Gil Luna ( Will Hochman ), Rodelay Medina (Angel Curiel) and later, Marcel Martinez ( Jeffry Batista ) who joins the team after dispensing a hustler’s ass-whipping in a speed chess match. Their dialogue is peppered with the language the PG-13 won’t allow but realism will. Martinez is often telling them “watch your mouth” in his class, even if, in his less guarded moments, he’s prone to occasional profanity. Leguizamo gets good performances from each of them, especially in moments where you really feel the bond between teammates, both in the tournaments and in the streets. When they tell each other that they’ve got each other’s backs, there’s a real emotional pull that emanates straight from the actors.

Though this is an inspirational movie, Leguizamo and Montiel never sugarcoat the dangers of the environment their characters inhabit. The potential for violence, temporary homelessness, crime, and police harassment are always hovering in the margins, sometimes even invading the safe space of Martinez’s class or the school. An early sequence that shockingly ends in violence shows how good Leguizamo is at quickly establishing the audience’s tie to a character. When Rivera (Dre C) is thrown into critical thinking class after a disciplinary problem (“my class is not detention!” Martinez yells at frenemy Principal Kesler [ Rachel Bay Jones ]), he immediately runs afoul of Ito. Rivera’s lack of response is due to Spanish being his primary language, which may also have something to do with the infraction that got him sent to this class. Martinez talks to him in Spanish, lectures Ito and all seems well.

Rivera is then brutally assassinated in broad daylight after accidentally bumping into another person on the street. The film is barely 15 minutes old when this happens, but it immediately establishes that “Critical Thinking” has no plans of abandoning reality for its feel-good message. That sense of realism extends to the way the characters bond with, rib, and defend each other. Additionally, Leguizamo plays Martinez as someone who understands the temptations and frustrations of his students’ world. He challenges them to do for themselves because he knows all too well that the system has no intention of lending a helping hand.

Like Nair does in “Queen of Katwe,” Leguizamo also blatantly refuses to impose on poverty any notions of shame or requests for pity. “Chess is the great equalizer,” Martinez tells his team as they navigate snooty tournament heads and appearances against challengers from much posher ‘hoods. Even when things get expectedly dire for some of the characters, “Critical Thinking” remains focused on the characters’ response to the situation, never once stripping them of their dignity for cheap emotional manipulation.

Of all the team members, Sedrick has the most detailed arc. He has a girlfriend, Chanayah ( Zora Casebere ), who is supportive and tougher than she looks, and a father ( Michael Kenneth Williams ) whose sole job here is to fill that chess movie trope of the angry guy who uses chess as a means of brutal domination. Williams is an always welcome presence, but I could have done without him. Still, there is one very good moment where he shows some growth, and his son makes a snide comment that he silently acknowledges as being right.

The chess scenes are good even if you know nothing about chess. I’ve been playing since I was five, so of course I wanted more detailed representations than Leguizamo provides. I found his classroom lessons and the team’s banter about moves fascinating, and every time I was given a good look at a chessboard, I got closer to the screen to investigate. And yet, despite its acknowledgement of my aforementioned issues, I still felt a little itchy watching “Critical Thinking.” I am always game for a movie that makes me reckon with my personal feelings and biases, and I’m glad this one exists because representation will always speak volumes. If nothing else, “Critical Thinking” reminds you what a chess player can look like.

Odie Henderson

Odie "Odienator" Henderson has spent over 33 years working in Information Technology. He runs the blogs Big Media Vandalism and Tales of Odienary Madness. Read his answers to our Movie Love Questionnaire here .

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Critical Thinking (2020)

117 minutes

John Leguizamo as Mario Martinez

Rachel Bay Jones as Principal Kestel

Michael Kenneth Williams as Mr. Roundtree

Corwin C. Tuggles as Sedrick Roundtree

Jorge Lendeborg Jr. as Ito Paniagua

Angel Bismark Curiel as Rodelay Medina

Will Hochman as Gil Luna

Jeffry Batista as Marcel Martinez

Zora Casebere as Chanayah

John Leguizamo
Dito Montiel

Cinematographer

Zach Zamboni
Jamie Kirkpatrick
Chris Hajian

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Critical Thinking

Where to watch.

Watch Critical Thinking with a subscription on Netflix, rent on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, or buy on Fandango at Home, Prime Video.

What to Know

Strategic in delivering all the feels, Critical Thinking is a good old-fashioned underdog story that marks a winning directorial debut for John Leguizamo.

Critics Reviews

Audience reviews, cast & crew.

John Leguizamo

Mario Martinez

Rachel Bay Jones

Principal Kestel

Michael Kenneth Williams

Mr. Roundtree

Corwin C. Tuggles

Sedrick Roundtree

Jorge Lendeborg

Ito Paniagua

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‘Critical Thinking’ Review: All the Right Moves

John Leguizamo directs and stars in this warmhearted drama about underprivileged teenagers who enter a national chess championship.

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By Jeannette Catsoulis

Whether championing math, poetry, or just how to be a decent human being , the inspirational teacher is as familiar to movie audiences as the class stoner. “Critical Thinking” does little to detach itself from genre cliché; yet this heartfelt drama about a rough-and-tumble group of high-schoolers who claw their way to a national chess tournament has a sweetness that softens its flaws.

Based on a true story and set in an underserved Miami neighborhood in 1998, the movie drops us into the boisterous classroom of Mr. Martinez (played by the director, John Leguizamo).

“Chess is the great equalizer,” he tells his multiethnic students, using the game to teach his critical thinking elective — with a side of racial history discouraged by his school board. The principal (Rachel Bay Jones) might treat his classroom like a dumping ground for miscreants, but Martinez, assisted by wigs and funny accents, explains complicated chess moves with a deftness that cuts through their indifference.

With goals as modest as the lives of its characters, “Critical Thinking” follows the predictable arc of the underdog drama as the chess team overcomes troubled home situations and other setbacks on the road to a Beverly Hills-set finale. Slow and straightforward, the movie knows that a chess match is hardly a barnburner; but its lively young performers and their eventual triumph are easy to warm to. Drugs and gangs might beckon — and immigration officers hover just outside the frame — but they’re no match for the values of sportsmanship and teamwork. And Mr. Martinez’s pep talks.

Critical Thinking Not rated. Running time: 1 hour 57 minutes. Watch through virtual cinemas, or rent or buy on iTunes , Google Play and other streaming platforms and pay TV operators.

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Critical thinking, common sense media reviewers.

Underdog chess team defies odds but plays into stereotypes.

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Positive themes of teamwork and defiance against t

Main characters are depicted as underdogs whose su

Frequent gun use. One character is abruptly shot a

Occasional kissing.

Frequent use of the words "f--k," "s--t," and "ass

Adults get drunk. Underage characters smoke cigare

Positive Messages

Positive themes of teamwork and defiance against the odds are prevalent. While it exposes some of the broken systems in public education, it fails to fully portray its teen characters' humanity, contributing to problematic stereotypes.

Positive Role Models

Main characters are depicted as underdogs whose success goes against everyone's expectations. Some show determination, but most play into stereotypes associated with Black and Latinx teens from under-resourced communities -- i.e., unmotivated, unintelligent jokesters. That makes it seem like their success is because of some paradoxical talent instead of their strength of character. Failure to see these kids' humanity contributes to their stereotyping, on-screen and off.

Violence & Scariness

Frequent gun use. One character is abruptly shot and killed. Another character is punched and strangled to death. Parents emotionally abuse children.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.

Sex, Romance & Nudity

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide.

Frequent use of the words "f--k," "s--t," and "ass."

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

Adults get drunk. Underage characters smoke cigarettes. Drug dealing.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that Critical Thinking is a fact-based drama about a high school chess team from an underserved community that defies the odds to make it to the U.S. National Chess Championship. Directed by and starring John Leguizamo , the movie has frequent swearing ("f--k," "s--t," etc.), underage cigarette smoking, drug dealing, punching, strangling, and gun violence that results in death. Parents emotionally abuse children. While positive themes of teamwork and overcoming challenges are prevalent, the movie's Black and Latinx teens are stereotypically depicted as unintelligent with little work ethic and their success as an anomaly. Rachel Bay Jones and Michael Kenneth Williams co-star. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails .

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What's the Story?

In CRITICAL THINKING, teacher Mr. T ( John Leguizamo ) oversees an unofficial detention hall at Miami Jackson Senior High School, where students are sent if they're deemed troublesome. Mr. T seizes the opportunity to start a chess team, all while navigating limited resources, a school with little faith in his students' abilities, and the stressors of his students' turbulent personal lives. When the team starts to succeed, the students come up with creative fundraisers to pay for travel and lodging at their competitions. But none of this is easy. One teen faces pressures at home from an emotionally abusive father who resents his son's talents. Another is pulled into dealing drugs to make ends meet. All the while, Mr. T is the loving, encouraging adult they crave.

Is It Any Good?

This drama is the classic story of an underdog team overcoming the odds and making it all the way; unfortunately, it falls back on stereotypical characterizations to tell its tale. The Miami Jackson team seems to be in this position because its members -- Black and Latinx teens from under-resourced communities -- have historically underestimated identities. The film plays on the biases that are often held about these identities by depicting the teens as shiftless and unfocused. They're careless in their fundraising efforts, they try to pass notes during tournaments, and they use the threat of physical violence to intimidate their opponents.

Their chess skills are an afterthought, making their success feel like an anomaly. And it certainly doesn't help that a White teen joins the team as they gain momentum and becomes their shining star -- teaching the other kids new chess moves and giving them vocabulary lessons. He's the only teen character whose background, personal life, and stressors aren't explored. So while Critical Thinking is diverse in its casting and exposes some of the broken systems in public education, it misses the mark in humanizing its characters. The failure to see these kids' humanity contributes to their stereotyping, on-screen and off.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about how Critical Thinking handles stereotypes and biases. Can media offer positive representations while still promoting stereotypical characterizations?

What does Critical Thinking teach viewers about student engagement and the importance of teaching things in a fun way?

What role does teamwork play in Critical Thinking ? Why is it an important character strength ?

Movie Details

In theaters : September 4, 2020
On DVD or streaming : September 4, 2020
Cast : John Leguizamo , Rachel Bay Jones , Michael Kenneth Williams
Director : John Leguizamo
Inclusion Information : Latino directors, Latino actors, Female actors
Studio : Vertical Entertainment
Genre : Drama
Topics : High School
Character Strengths : Teamwork
Run time : 117 minutes
MPAA rating : NR
Last updated : February 19, 2023

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Flickering Myth

Geek Culture | Movies, TV, Comic Books & Video Games

Movie Review – Critical Thinking (2020)

August 31, 2020 by Robert Kojder

Critical Thinking , 2020.

Directed by John Leguizamo. Starring John Leguizamo, Rachel Bay Jones, Michael Kenneth Williams, Corwin C. Tuggles, Jorge Lendeborg Jr., Angel Bismark Curiel, Will Hochman, Jeffry Batista, Zora Casebere, Ramses Jimenez, Sydney Arroyo, Brandon Somers, and Isaac Beverly.

The true story of the Miami Jackson High School chess team which was the first inner city team to win the U.S. National Chess Championship.

Chess is looked down upon as a high school elective course. It’s frowned upon and disregarded so much that even though the very nature of the game promotes, well, critical thinking, to the rest of the school it’s just a class where slackers and/or troubled students can take to get an easy passing mark. They, and realistically most schools, would rather fund physical sports such as football while handwaving away the fact chess is about brainpower and all-inclusive regardless of socioeconomic status. John Leguizamo’s Mario Martinez ( Critical Thinking also marks his directorial debut, discounting a made-for-TV action project about a boxer) voices this frustration verbally and directly to principal Kestel (Rachel Bay Jones), and due to the actor’s always likable fiery persona and logic, it’s easy to get on board with the sentiment.

Based on the 1998 Miami Jackson High School chess team, the story also focuses on a small group of LatinX and Black students that actually enjoying chess and testing their minds whether it’s to take their minds off of the crime surrounding them or their rough personal lives which range from dysfunctional families to temptation into drug dealing as a means to hopefully escape poverty. There’s plenty of characters that make for plenty of choices and consequences, similar to an actual game of chess.

Most notable is Sedrick Roundtree (Corwin C. Tuggles) who lives with his bitter father (the reliable Michael Kenneth Williams making the most out of a somewhat underdeveloped character) that lies around the house all day grieving his tragically deceased wife while holding and staring at pictures of her (sometimes the film is not subtle.) Dad also happens to be a decent chess player himself as father and son occasionally square off (albeit heatedly; it’s far from traditional bonding) while lambasting Sedrick’s ambitions of stepping up his game and seeing as far as his team can go in the playoffs. College football players have won the Heisman Trophy and gone nowhere in life, so what are a bunch of chess trophies going to do for anyone?

That’s his father’s logic; he’s a cynical and nearly broken man. Again, there is a supremely talented actor embodying the character but limited material, and perhaps more frustratingly, like quite a few characters is just dropped from the narrative eventually. It doesn’t help that Critical Thinking has a fairly abrupt ending that is only concerned with winning and losing rather than how the success story is going to alter their lives. We don’t even get any pre-credits random facts about what any of the students went on to do in life.

While some of the subplots are all over the place, it’s safe to say that John Leguizamo has a clear direction when it comes to not only presenting chess as a tense game (feelings heightened by wonderful music from Chris Hajian that evokes the brainiac thinking from these kids in a race against the clock making moves across various tournament matchups), but educating when it comes to the basics and specifics of the game itself, both as a director and actor. There are long sequences that can be simply summarized as Mr. Martinez lecturing on famous chess games, historical chess players, and how history itself goes beyond whatever information is being suppressed by the white people writing the textbooks. He’s such a magnetic actor that it’s easy to buy these teenagers coming from a seemingly awful part of the country that has basically nothing, engaging his cheesy inspirational speeches (it had to be an easy choice for him to play the role himself instead of casting someone). The R rating also helps, giving the students the freedom to be authentic and break out into bad habits of their own (at one point they try selling drug-laced bakery treats to raise funding to travel to one of their tournament games.)

It’s a delight watching these impoverished students battle uphill against all odds becoming a success story; it doesn’t feel like overdramatic feel-good nonsense, likely because John Leguizamo knows how to mix the bleak reality of ghetto life into uplifting sports drama. There’s definitely a few more characters than necessary and one or two plot threads that could use a little more, but what’s in Critical Thinking is intelligent enough and succinctly portrays chess as a metaphor for life. John Leguizamo has always been a terrific character actor, so it brings joy to report that his timely chess club underdog directorial debut comes with spirit and bite.

Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★ ★

Robert Kojder is a member of the Chicago Film Critics Association and the Flickering Myth Reviews Editor. Check here for new reviews, friend me on Facebook, follow my Twitter or Letterboxd , check out my personal non-Flickering Myth affiliated Patreon , or email me at [email protected]

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Critical thinking.

Directed by John Leguizamo

Chess is the great equalizer

Based on a true story from 1998, five Latino and Black teenagers from the toughest underserved ghetto in Miami fight their way into the National Chess Championship under the guidance of their unconventional but inspirational teacher.

John Leguizamo Rachel Bay Jones Michael Kenneth Williams Corwin C. Tuggles Jorge Lendeborg Jr. Angel Bismark Curiel Will Hochman Jeffry Batista Zora Casebere Ramses Jimenez Todd Allen Durkin Brandon Somers Isaac Beverly Ruben E. A. Brown Sydney Arroyo Carlos Guerrero Michele Lepe Tatum Price

Director Director

John Leguizamo

Producers Producers

Scott M. Rosenfelt Jason Mandl Joseph Krutel Elayne Schneiderman Schmidt John J. Brunetti Jr.

Writer Writer

Dito Montiel

Casting Casting

Avy Kaufman

Editor Editor

Jamie Kirkpatrick

Cinematography Cinematography

Zach Zamboni

Executive Producers Exec. Producers

John Leguizamo Carla Berkowitz Emilio Estefan Jr. Harvey Chaplin

Production Design Production Design

J. Mark Harrington

Art Direction Art Direction

Lewis Zucker

Set Decoration Set Decoration

Composer composer.

Chris Hajian

Costume Design Costume Design

Danny Santiago

Hairstyling Hairstyling

Carol Raskin

Cinema Veritas NRSP Perfect Balance

Primary Language

Spoken languages.

English Spanish

Releases by Date

18 dec 2020, 21 jan 2021, 04 sep 2020, 05 may 2021, releases by country, russian federation.

Theatrical 18+
Theatrical 輔12級

117 mins More at IMDb TMDb Report this page

Popular reviews

Review by Dave Taylor ★★½ 5

I know nothing about chess, but based on the overview given in this movie, it is the most random game in the whole world.

I think therein lies the problem for casual viewers checking this out. I watch hockey about as much as I play chess, but I know if the puck goes in the net, the team that put the puck in the net gets a point. They try to film the chess matches in a similar fashion to your standard sports movies, but I didn’t feel any tension mount (except for the last match) because there didn’t seem to be any rhyme or reason to what pieces were being moved. I only knew the good guys won after…

Review by JBird ★★★

Leguizamo wants his students to Critical Think, Like how to draw or come back from the brink. Although no one planned it, The year of the Gambit, With two chess submissions that don't stink.

Review by Joshua Arispe ★★★ 4

I should probably start off by mentioning that I’m an avid chess player. Chess is the greatest game ever invented and I play it quite often. Some friends of mine also worked on this movie, which I think is pretty cool. So I had many reasons to give Critical Thinking a watch.

It clicked with me right away. Not as inspiring as it tries to be (thanks to some lame subplots and side characters) but I enjoyed the in-depth look at chess and John Leguizamo as the instantly likeable teacher. Reminded me a lot of Edward James Olmos’ Jaime Escalante from Stand and Deliver . He nails the role and made me wish I had a teacher like him. Hell, I…

Review by Karl ★★★

The true story of a chess team from an underfunded, underserved Florida public high school. Fortunately they have a passionate teacher, Mr. Martinez, who will do whatever it takes to get them to the chess finals in Beverly Hills. Sure it's cliche and you've seen variations of this underdog can-do spirit/inspirational story before, but when it's done right it can be among the most rewarding of viewings.

It's the kind of film that feels great while watching it, but won't likely stay with you, preventing from transcending the formula. The young actors make things worthwhile, particularly Jorge Lendeborg Jr., who has it the roughest of the five players. Also on hand is the late Michael Kenneth Williams. John Leguizamo, who…

Review by Luke Robertson ★★★½

I love this genre of movie. Underdog sports team come together to completely overcome the odds. It’s not my favourite in the genre but it is still a good movie. The cast are decent as well. If you are a fan of high school dramas then I think you’ll enjoy this.

Review by danielle ⚡ ★★ 1

movies can't be formulaic and long like pick a struggle

Review by Tim McClelland ★★★½ 1

There are many films of this type. We've seen the inspirational teacher with the underdog students fighting for their time to shine. When you start watching a film that follows that formula, it will need something special to help it stand out. This movie has cliched elements, but it also has heart and it had me on edge even though I knew the outcome. It took a little time to get me invested, but once I was, I was all in on the movie. It is a great true story so to see it made into a pretty decent film is awesome. I really enjoyed watching this. There is a great story here that has some wonderful characters and it will leave you feeling good. If a movie like this leaves me with a smile on my face, I'd say it did its job just fine.

Review by Justin Decloux ★★★½

I am a sucker for an 'Based on a True Story' underdog sports movie, and the fact that this is about chess (a game I have no interest in playing, but I love due to ti's simple complexity), and stars (and was directed by) John Leguizamo makes this even more my kind of thing. It hits all the expected beats, kind of muddles it's finale (Oh, that's it?), and is directed in a workman like fashion, but I still found it a thrill.

I will continue to not play chess.

Watched for The Bay Street Video Podcast :https://soundcloud.com/thebaystreetvideopodcast

Review by Nicholas Faron ★★★½

I've never understood chess, but hot damn is it exciting to watch (on screen that is).

Review by Jacob Knight ★★★

This review may contain spoilers. I can handle the truth.

John Leguizamo’s feature directorial debut is an R-rated, Dito Montiel scripted after school special about inner city Miami kids winning the US National Chess Championship in ‘98. It hits every beat you expect it to, including Leguizamo (who plays the boys’ coach/teacher/mentor) reading poetry to his class, and even has one of the would-be champs return to the streets to sell drugs for a local assassin after he loses his job. And you know what? That’s fine, because even though Leguizamo isn’t a born filmmaker (the direction here is the very definition of “workmanlike”) he injects street smarts and a POV that, when combined with the troupe young/non-actors, makes it all feel lived-in as opposed to schmaltzy (which, I mean, it still totally is). Maybe I’m just a sucker for this sort of thing, but the amount of screen time devoted to the strategic history of chess alone made the dorkier parts of my brain light up.

Review by waz ★★★½ 2

Coach Carter meets Fresh meets The Queen’s Gambit . There’s truly nothing more exhilarating than seeing two individuals duke it out on one of the most ancient boardgames in history.

With the release of The Queens Gambit as well as the sudden surge by many popular Twitch streamers, 2020 was a great year for chess that brought hundreds of newcomers to the game. Although this film in particular may have slipped under the radar during the chess boom, it has plenty of heart to it and finishes on a strong, inspirational note. There’s a bit of something for all chess players to be able to relate to or enjoy here whether it’s seeing the camaraderie within a tight-knit team or the familiar intrigue of…

Review by Jeremy Kremser ★★★

My dad didn’t make a single racially charged comment during this whole movie it’s a Christmas miracle

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Produced by, critical thinking (2020), directed by john leguizamo.

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Synopsis by Maggie Sadler

Characteristics, related movies.

'Critical Thinking' Review: John Leguizamo Turns Inner-City Teens Into Chess Champs In This Powerful, Inspiring Drama

There are plenty of movies where inner-city kids with troubled lives get inspired by their teachers. But you've never seen one like Critical Thinking , which takes that formula and puts a different kind of intellectual twist on it by focusing on a group of Black and Latinx kids in 1998 who were determined to become national chess champions. In the face of underwhelming support by school administrators, troubled family dynamics, and a world that never gives them the opportunities they deserve, these kids were driven to be better than the criminals or underachievers everyone expected them to be. And it's all thanks to a teacher who never gave up on them.

John Leguizamo stars as Mr. Mario Martinez, a teacher at Miami Jackson Senior High School who leads an elective course called "Critical Thinking," which is basically a class where kids learn how to play chess and apply the mentality it takes to play the game to their own lives. He attempts to stimulate his class intellectually as much as he can, even Cornelia, the girl who never wants to answer any questions and really doesn't care about what's going on in class. But no matter how often he's rebuffed, even when she says she's not there during attendance, he never stops giving her a chance.

There are four breakout students in the class who form the school's chess team that is hungry to become national chess champions. Sedrick ( Corwin Tuggles ) is the most dedicated and hard-working of the group who has to deal with a father ( Michael K. Williams ) constantly trying to bring him down, whether it's by beating him in chess or by completely being checked out of his life, having never recovered after the death of Sedrick's mother. Ito ( Jorge Lendeborg Jr. ) has a short fuse but a passion for the game, though he's constantly having to work late to support his family, making it difficult for him to balance tournaments and responsibility. It leaves him constantly contemplating taking the wrong path just to make ends meet. Rodelay ( Angel Bismark Curiel ) is the mouthy one in the group, sometimes a little too cocky, but also a fiercely loyal friend. And finally, Gil ( Will Hochman ), who comes aboard the team despite having a confrontation with Sedrick awhile back after Gil accidentally stepped on his sneaker and got a punch in the face for his troubles. There's also Jeffry Batista who comes into play in the second half of the movie as a student named Marcel, and I don't want to spoil how, but just know that he brings a unique presence to the team as well.

Each of these kids have their own struggles and shortcomings, but they become a tight-knit group. While it might sound like Critical Thinking has familiar Disney-like sensibilities that we've seen in plenty of their sports movies, including the chess-based film The Queen of Katwe , let me tell you that this movie is much more raw and far less sappy. It doesn't hold back the reality of the danger these kids face everyday, and it doesn't play nice when it comes to teachable moments throughout. It's an honest portrayal of these broken school systems that have to contend with teens who are on the verge of becoming criminals every day, mostly because they're just a product of the environment around them. That's established early on in the movie with a shocking turn of events.

Unfortunately, due to the school's constant struggle with misbehavior, the Critical Thinking class occasionally becomes a makeshift sort of detention for students acting out. We're not necessarily talking about kids who are actively choosing to make trouble, but teens who are merely a product of their corrupt and even criminal environment, teens with parents who are already sending them down the wrong path, kids who have to work school nights to help their family get by. One of these kids ends up in the class for the day, but isn't really keen to engage during school. However, when the bell rings, he swipes a chess set to take home, clearly wanting to do something more than be obstinate. Sadly, he never gets a chance to prove it, because an altercation on the way home results in him suddenly being shot in the head by a drug dealer.

This moment, which happens very early in the movie, completely threw me for a loop and sent my jaw to the floor. What felt like the predictable beginning of an inspiring story about this kid who turns his life around by taking in an interest in chess was literally stopped dead in its tracks. This scene sets up the lingering presence of either the threat of becoming a cog in the crime machine or a victim of it. It's business as usual for this urban school, tragic but ultimately expected in this part of Miami. These kids are always faced with opportunities, sometimes even encouragement, to throw their lives away instead of following any dreams they might have to be more than a criminal statistic. Here, it takes courage to have ambition and be smart, because it could end up getting you killed.

Even more credit goes to the stellar young cast for bringing these characters to life with such raw, natural passion. Corwin Tuggles brings a quiet power to Sedrick, who always seems to be contemplating his next step into the future. Angel Bismark Curiel puts on a tough, smart-ass exterior as Rodelay, but touchingly shows his vulnerable, softer side in one particularly powerful moment that you'll know when you see it. Will Hochman brings a subtlety to Gil as the white kid who feels a little out of place in a school full of kids of color. They're also a big part of making chess exciting on screen, largely thanks to their tactics to shake up their opponents a bit, but also due to the laser focus and speed they bring during matches.

But for me, the most remarkable performance comes from Jorge Lendeborg Jr., who you might remember from movies like Bumblebee or Alita: Battle Angel , and should go out of your way to see in Brigsby Bear and Love, Simon . His character Ito has the most heavy-lifting to do in this film as the one kid who struggles most with his future. Ito has the pressure of trying to support his family, tempted by the opportunity to make more money by working the streets for a local drug dealer. Lendeborg Jr. brings an intensity to this role that lingers in his eyes throughout every scene. There are several moments throughout the film where you can feel the emotion bubbling within him, trying not to let tears roll down his face as he attempts to maintain a tough exterior. This is the fear of a kid who is trying to be tough but can't help but feel lost and scared at the same time. It's truly a breakout performance.

What's great about Critical Thinking is it doesn't gloss over the challenges that inner-city kids face everyday, and it doesn't try to sugarcoat them either. Furthermore, unlike some movies that feature a group of urban teens inspired by a teacher and their lessons, it doesn't make it seem like merely winning a chess tournament will make all the problems in their lives go away. It's one victory that might make everything else feel less overwhelming, at least for a little bit.

More importantly, Critical Thinking just might inspire more teens who feel stuck in this same position to take a chance on something. The reason representation matters is because it's truly inspiring to see someone who looks like you achieving something that you didn't know was possible. There's a pivotal scene in Critical Thinking where Mr. Martinez talks with his class about Black and Latinx innovators and pioneers being erased from history books, because they were written by white men. Leguizamo's character says:

"I want to ask you that whenever you don't see a familiar image that you feel like you can relate to in whatever it is that you're moved by, that you dig deeper than your dusty old Britannica Encyclopedia. We people of color have been everywhere since time and memoriam, and if you pick up one of these bad boys, and you open it up, and you don't recognize yourself, I hope you realize that this was their oversight. That this was their mistake to paint you out."

It's a speech that doesn't feel contrived or ham-fisted and it's unfortunately all too relevant as the crux of the movie's message. With Critical Thinking , John Leguizamo has delivered an outstanding directorial achievement that isn't just inspiring because some kids won a chess tournament. It's inspiring because a group of kids who are often overlooked and shoved aside chose to push forward, ignore everyone who counted them out, and achieved something that they could truly be proud of. Perhaps more importantly, it gives the next generation a chance to see themselves in future history books.

/Film Rating: 9 out of 10

Critical Thinking: Is the 2020 Movie Based on Real Chess Players?

Directed by John Leguizamo, ‘Critical Thinking’ is a 2020 sports film that follows a group of kids from Miami Jackson High School trying to win the National Chess Championship. Led by Mario Martinez, the team comprises Sedrick Roundtree, Marcel Martinez, Gilbert Luna, Rodelay Medina, and Olemy Paniagua. The five boys come from the inner parts of Miami, where the families strive daily for necessities such as food, shelter, and clothing. Coach Mario Martinez sees their interest in chess as an opportunity for growth and sets out on a quest to create history.

Set in 1998, the film portrays what it’s like to come from underprivileged backgrounds and how classism deprives poor people of great opportunities. In addition, the narrative tackles subjects such as racism and juvenile crimes and depicts how the latter results from several other factors in a system that doesn’t uplift the downtrodden. The various characters and backdrops feel authentic and allow the audience to empathize with the people they see onscreen. The compelling performances and organic character journeys have made many wonder if the the story is rooted in reality. Well, allow us to shed some light on the matter.

Critical Thinking: Based on True Events

Yes, ‘Critical Thinking’ is a true story. Written by Dito Montiel and directed by John Leguizamo, the movie captures the events leading up to the 1998 National Chess Championship. It showcases how Mario Martinez and his team of boys from Miami Jackson High School won the title. The group is also the first-ever team from Miami to win the national title in chess . Executive producer, Carla Berkowitz, came up with this idea when she read an article in 1997 about the boys of Miami Jackson. She wanted to tell the story of all these boys doing such incredible things in the chess world with Mario Martinez’s help.

Interestingly the movie is quite close to how the events unfolded in real life. All 5 players in the movie are based on real-life chess players. Even the character of Coach Mario Martinez in the film has a real-life counterpart, who is a chess teacher . The real-life figures also played a significant role in the filming process. In an interview with CineMovie, Carla Berkowitz said , “All the boys that were portrayed and Mario obviously were the consultants in the chess movie.”

Another fascinating aspect is that Berkowitz wanted to make the movie for about two decades. Although filming began in 2018, Carla Berkowitz has been in touch with all players and Mario Martinez since 1997. While describing the movie’s accuracy, the real Mario Martinez and Carla Berkowitz mentioned a few things. First, all games we see the players play in the movie were played by their real-life counterparts. Second, Marcel’s book of chess moves also existed in real life. Third, the scene where Marcel plays with Mario, Sedrick, Roddy, and Gil, with his eyes closed, happened in reality too.

Numerous events in the movie mirror circumstances that transpired in reality, which elevates the narrative’s authenticity. ‘Critical Thinking’ is far more than a chess championship for Mario Martinez and the boys. The group comes from a place where they have nothing but want to create a better life for themselves. However, the boys do not get a fair shot at anything due to racial discrimination and financial circumstances. Coach Martinez sees chess as an opportunity and a metaphor for their life.

At the film’s beginning, Martinez says that chess is an equalizer that puts everyone on a level playing field. In fact, the teacher solves almost every problem with a chess move because he considers the game symbolic of life. The ideology comes from the real-life coach. In an interview with Orlando Sentinel, he said , “Chess is a way of looking at choices and realizing, ‘If I do this, then this will happen. If I do that, then that will happen,'” Martinez deduced, “Choices have consequences. That’s critical thinking. That’s analytical. And that’s life.”

The coach always applies this philosophy in the movie, which leads the boys to bag the national title. Marcel wins the title for the individuals’ category, and Miami Jackson High School wins in the teams’ category. In real-life, Coach Martinez didn’t stop with the 1998 championship title. The teacher went on to win several more via kids who developed an interest in the sport. In the next four years, he offered his guidance to various teams comprising different players representing Miami Jackson and won 4 more national championship titles.

In 2000, Rodelay Medina became the national champion in the expert division. Marcel played three opponents simultaneously while being blindfolded. Therefore, to reiterate, ‘Critical Thinking’ is a true story of a group of boys and their coach from Miami Jackson. It essays how Martinez and his team become the first from Miami to win the National Chess Championship. The narrative also portrays how the boys overcome several struggles and move toward a hopeful future.

Read More: Is Mario Martinez Based on a Real-Life Coach? Where is He Now?

The Hollywood Outsider – Film and Television Podcast | Reviews An award-winning film and television podcast for the fan in all of us

Critical Thinking | SXSW 2020 Film Review

Amanda M. Sink March 22, 2020

The intellectual sport of chess teaches patience, the importance of rational thinking, consequences, and how to re-strategize when an obstacle presents itself. Pair that with a passionate teacher whose faith in his students’ abilities is unwavering and you get the true story behind Critical Thinking .

Mario Martinez ( John Leguizamo ) is a Cuban-American instructor at a Miami high school in the 90’s with a classroom full of students whose behavior is often less than acceptable. But those students are enduring a battle much stronger on the streets at home. These disadvantaged minorities are pushed to the wayside by the school system that only seems to care about the kids who already have what they need to succeed.

Recognizing this failure, and after losing a kid to the street war zone, Mr. Martinez resists. Nothing will keep him from helping his students find a way out of war, drugs, and death. For Martinez, that means chess. He uses this to group them together and find solace in a skillful craft that they can feel accomplished in. As the film progresses, Martinez’s students must face the duel both at home and in the game of chess, if they want to make it to Nationals.

Martinez is the teacher we all wish we could have had, remember having, or aspire to be, because of the level of impact he has on his students and the lengths to which he will go for them to reach their full potential. He doesn’t make excuses for them, even the ones who have to work third shift all night and come into class late. It may seem harsh but the reality is that life doesn’t give you breaks when you want or need them. Leguizamo perfectly encapsulates the essence of Martinez in his performance.

Outside of Leguizamo, the cast is filled to the brim with talent. Young actors that do more than just fill screen time, but make you care about their character’s story. Jorge Lendeborg Jr. plays “Ito”, the struggling youth who works every night to help pay the bills. Lendeborg’s take is one that resonates deeply with those who understand the turmoil he’s enduring. Despite his fits of anger and picking fights, it’s clear Ito is a smart kid.

The other stand out casting comes from the Roundtree household. Sedrick Roundtree (Corwin C. Tuggles) knows all about the game of chess, seeing as he plays it with his father (Michael Kenneth Williams). The two have a close but tumultuous relationship since Sedrick’s mother passed away, and Mr. Roundtree is living in a constant state of devastation. It felt so authentic seeing Michael Kenneth Williams laying on a couch reeling through his pain, holding an image of his wife one minute, and then later becoming reactionary and aggressive when he’s having a drink.

Leguizamo’s directorial debut is overall a successful one. The story alone is intense and inspiring, and his cast stands alongside his own fabulous performance the whole way through. A lack of subtitles when another language is being spoken and a need to flesh out one character that arrives midway through are really the only downfalls of Critical Thinking .

A chronicle about surviving despite the odds and in the face of dire consequences, Critical Thinking reminds us all the importance of planning our next move.

The Hollywood Outsider Review Score

Performances - 6.5, screenplay - 6.5, production - 6.5.

A chronicle about surviving despite the odds and in face of the consequences, Critical Thinking reminds us all the importance of planning our next move.

About Amanda M. Sink

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Critical Thinking , Movie About Miami Jackson's Chess Champs, Available for Download

Actors Will Hochman, Jeffry Batista, and John Leguizamo (left to right) shoot Critical Thinking in Miami.

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Critical Thinking

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Critical Thinking streaming: where to watch online?

Currently you are able to watch "Critical Thinking" streaming on Netflix, Netflix basic with Ads. It is also possible to buy "Critical Thinking" on Amazon Video, Microsoft Store, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Vudu as download or rent it on Apple TV, Amazon Video, Vudu, Microsoft Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube online.

Where does Critical Thinking rank today? The JustWatch Daily Streaming Charts are calculated by user activity within the last 24 hours. This includes clicking on a streaming offer, adding a title to a watchlist, and marking a title as 'seen'. This includes data from ~1.3 million movie & TV show fans per day.

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Critical Thinking is 8919 on the JustWatch Daily Streaming Charts today. The movie has moved up the charts by 4027 places since yesterday. In the United States, it is currently more popular than Voyage to the Planet of Prehistoric Women but less popular than The Vessel.

Streaming Charts The JustWatch Daily Streaming Charts are calculated by user activity within the last 24 hours. This includes clicking on a streaming offer, adding a title to a watchlist, and marking a title as 'seen'. This includes data from ~1.3 million movie & TV show fans per day.

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Best Movies for Critical Thinking: Top Picks to Challenge Your Mind

In today’s fast-paced world, movies have become an essential source of entertainment and learning, providing viewers with thought-provoking stories that challenge their intellect. One of the many subgenres of films that cater to this need is the category of movies for critical thinking. These films captivate audiences by presenting complex narratives that delve into unique philosophical concepts, moral dilemmas, and intricate character developments. A compelling critical thinking movie will often challenge perception and reality, encouraging viewers to reflect on the nature of humanity and the universe.

Such movies encompass a range of genres, from mind-bending dramas to thrilling science fiction. Critical thinking films often explore multi-layered philosophical themes and beliefs, offering distinct perspectives on the human condition and providing valuable insights into how we perceive the world around us. Ultimately, these movies aim to inspire audiences to think critically and question their pre-existing assumptions about life, society, and existence.

Key Takeaways

Critical thinking movies span various genres, offering complex narratives that promote intellectual engagement.
These films often explore philosophical themes and beliefs while challenging common perceptions of reality.
Through captivating stories, critical thinking movies encourage viewers to reflect on their own understanding of humanity and the universe.

Understanding Critical Thinking

Definition and importance.

Critical thinking refers to the ability to analyze information objectively and make a reasoned judgment. It involves evaluating the validity of arguments, identifying biases, and considering different perspectives to make informed decisions. Critical thinking is essential in various areas of life, as it helps individuals to solve problems, make better choices, and foster deeper understanding.

The importance of critical thinking cannot be overstated. It enables critical thinkers to navigate complex situations, think creatively, and approach new challenges with confidence. It equips individuals to discern truth from falsehood, judge the credibility of sources, and differentiate between reliable and misleading information. By fostering critical thinking skills, people become more adept at reasoning, problem solving, and effective communication.

Relation with Movies

Movies can be a potent tool for promoting critical thinking. They offer diverse settings, complex characters, and intricate storylines that stimulate the mind and encourage viewers to engage with thought-provoking content. Many movies drive viewers to analyze the narrative, events, and character motivations, pushing them to exercise their critical thinking abilities.

Films like Inception and A Beautiful Mind challenge viewers to employ critical thinking by exploring complicated storylines and themes. These movies encourage audiences to deconstruct the elements of the plot, evaluate the motivations and actions of characters, and critically assess the impact of choices made within the story. By engaging with complex narratives, viewers develop a deeper understanding of the world portrayed in the film and enhance their own critical thinking skills as they explore various perspectives and theories.

Critical Thinking in Dramas

Forrest gump.

Forrest Gump is a captivating drama that takes viewers on an emotional journey through the life of its titular character, played by Tom Hanks. Set in America, the movie follows Forrest Gump, a man with a low IQ, as he navigates various real-life historical events and situations. Through his innocent yet profound perspective, the film encourages viewers to critically examine themes such as acceptance, loyalty, and appreciation.

The character of Forrest Gump teaches us invaluable lessons about resilience, empathy, and determination, challenging the audience’s critical thinking abilities while presenting a heartfelt story. This thought-provoking movie serves as a right of passage for those seeking a deeper understanding of life’s complexities.

Good Will Hunting

Good Will Hunting is another remarkable drama that fosters critical thinking. The film revolves around a young, self-taught mathematics prodigy, Will Hunting, portrayed by Matt Damon, who faces the challenges of living in a tough, working-class environment in America. The movie delves into real-life issues of identity, relationships, and personal growth while presenting an enthralling story of brilliance, vulnerability, and human connection.

As the protagonist navigates through the intricacies of life and academia, the audience is encouraged to examine their own understanding of success, potential, and self-worth. Through Will’s journey to confront his past and pursue his extraordinary talent, Good Will Hunting provides an excellent opportunity for viewers to reflect and engage their critical thinking skills.

Exploring Philosophy and Beliefs through Movies

The Matrix is a groundbreaking science fiction film that invites audiences to question their beliefs about reality. The movie centers on the character of Neo, played by Keanu Reeves, who discovers that his entire world is actually a simulated reality called the Matrix. Throughout the film, themes of fate, free will, and the nature of reality are explored in a compelling narrative. As it portrays a world where nothing is what it seems, The Matrix challenges viewers to critically examine their own beliefs and assumptions about the world around them.

The Truman Show

Another film that delves into the world of illusions is The Truman Show . This unique story captures the life of Truman, an unwitting participant in a reality TV show that is, unbeknownst to him, centered around his every move. As Truman starts to unravel the truth about his artificial world, the film delves into philosophical questions about the nature of existence, the role of the media in shaping our perceptions, and the importance of personal freedom. With its thought-provoking concepts, The Truman Show encourages critical thinking in the exploration of reality and the human experience.

Cloud Atlas

Cloud Atlas is an ambitious film that takes viewers on a whirlwind journey through multiple time periods, exploring the interconnectedness of human lives across time and space. With its complex narrative structure and a wide range of characters, the film delves into themes of reincarnation, interconnectedness, and the impact of individual actions on the greater world. By weaving together seemingly disparate storylines, Cloud Atlas prompts viewers to contemplate the deeper connections that bind humanity together, inviting them to reflect on their own beliefs and philosophies about the nature of existence and the impact of individual choices on the world.

Movies that Challenge Perception and Reality

Inception is a groundbreaking film that delves into the world of dreams and the manipulation of the human mind. Directed by Christopher Nolan, this psychological thriller introduces us to the concept of dream-sharing and dives deep into the complexities of the subconscious. The film follows a group of skilled professionals, led by Dom Cobb (played by Leonardo DiCaprio), who specialize in extracting ideas from people’s minds through shared dreaming. Inception challenges our perception of reality in unique ways, pushing the boundaries of film storytelling and leaving viewers questioning the nature of their own dreams and realities.

Being John Malkovich

Being John Malkovich is a quirky, surreal, and thought-provoking film directed by Spike Jonze. The story centers on a puppeteer, Craig Schwartz (played by John Cusack), who discovers a mysterious portal in his office that allows people to enter the mind of actor John Malkovich. This bizarre premise raises intriguing philosophical questions about identity, ego, and the nature of reality. As the film unfolds, the lines between the real world, the fantasy world, and the life of John Malkovich blur together, challenging our preconceived notions of perception and self-awareness.

Shutter Island

Shutter Island is a suspenseful psychological thriller directed by Martin Scorsese, based on the novel by Dennis Lehane. The film revolves around two U.S. Marshals, Teddy Daniels (played by Leonardo DiCaprio) and Chuck Aule (played by Mark Ruffalo), who are sent to investigate the disappearance of a prisoner from an isolated mental institution on Shutter Island. As they delve deeper into the case, they uncover disturbing truths and confront the terrifying reality that their own sanity is at stake. The film is filled with twists and turns, constantly shifting the viewer’s perception of what is real and what isn’t, while exploring the complexity of human consciousness and the power of the mind.

These movies provide audiences with engaging and fascinating narratives that challenge our grasp on reality and perception. Through their thought-provoking storylines and inventive filmmaking techniques, Inception, Being John Malkovich, and Shutter Island inspire critical thinking and ignite our curiosity about the world around us.

Critical Thinking in Time and Space Movies

Predestination.

Predestination is a fascinating take on time travel, centered on the concept of a temporal agent who tries to prevent crimes before they happen. The movie keeps viewers on their toes, exploring themes of fate, free will, and identity. The protagonist’s journey through various time periods challenges the audience to think critically about the nature of time and the consequences of attempting to control it.

Interstellar

Directed by Christopher Nolan, Interstellar is a thought-provoking space odyssey that plays with complex theories of time, space, and the future of humanity. The plot follows a team of astronauts who travel through a wormhole in search of a new home for humanity as Earth is on the verge of collapse. The movie stretches the boundaries of science fiction with ideas about black holes, time dilation, and artificial intelligence. The viewer is encouraged to think critically about humanity’s role in the cosmos and the potential consequences of tampering with the fabric of time and space.

2001: A Space Odyssey

Regarded as a masterpiece of science fiction, 2001: A Space Odyssey delves deep into themes of human evolution, artificial intelligence, and the search for extraterrestrial life. The movie’s enigmatic presentation of past, present, and future leaves viewers questioning the true nature of reality and human existence. The audience is introduced to HAL 9000, an artificial intelligence system that develops a malfunction with disastrous consequences. This storyline provokes questions about the ethical development and application of AI technology, pushing the viewer to think critically about the relationship between humans and advanced technology.

Movies Encouraging Reflection on Self and Humanity

Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind.

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is a thought-provoking film that delves into the concept of human memory and emotions. Starring Jim Carrey, this movie portrays the desire to erase painful memories in order to move on from a failed relationship. As the story unfolds, it offers a profound look into the soul, highlighting how memories define who we are and help us grow. Viewers are encouraged to reflect on their own experiences and evaluate the importance of embracing both joyful and sorrowful moments in life.

Life of Pi is a visually stunning and deeply contemplative film that centers around a young man named Pi, who finds himself stranded on a lifeboat with a Bengal tiger following a shipwreck. As he navigates the challenges of survival, the movie delves into themes of spirituality, faith, and the human will to live. The story provides an opportunity for viewers to examine their beliefs, question reality, and consider the role of storytelling in the perception of truth. Through Pi’s journey, Life of Pi offers insights into the complexities of human nature and encourages reflection on the evolution of our convictions and values.

Contagion is a gripping thriller that depicts the spread of a highly contagious and deadly virus. While the primary focus of the movie is on the epidemic and the race to find a cure, it offers a sobering exploration of human behavior in the face of a global crisis. The fear and panic exhibited by characters serve as a reminder of the fragility of society and the importance of cooperation and compassion in times of adversity. Examining the responses of individuals, government agencies, and the media, Contagion triggers discussions on ethics, social responsibility, and the resilience of the human spirit in the midst of chaos.

Critical Thinking in Thriller Movies

Primer is a mind-bending science fiction thriller that leaves viewers questioning the nature of time and the consequences of playing with it. The movie’s complex narrative structure and attention to scientific detail encourage critical thinking in the audience. Directed by Shane Carruth, Primer tells the story of two engineers who accidentally discover time travel and grapple with the ethical implications of their newfound power. The film challenges viewers to think critically about the role that technology plays in our lives, as well as the potential dangers and moral dilemmas associated with scientific advancement.

Memento is another example of a psychological thriller that inspires critical thinking. Directed by Christopher Nolan, the film follows the story of Leonard, a man suffering from short-term memory loss, as he tries to unravel the truth about his wife’s murder. The movie is structured in such a way that it mimics Leonard’s disjointed memory, with scenes unfolding in reverse order. This unique storytelling technique engages viewers on a deeper level and promotes critical thinking by forcing them to piece together the narrative on their own. Memento also raises questions about the reliability of memory and the lengths people will go to create a sense of meaning in their lives.

V for Vendetta

V for Vendetta is a thought-provoking thriller that explores themes of political oppression, resistance, and personal freedom. Set in a dystopian future where Britain is ruled by a totalitarian regime, the film follows the mysterious anarchist ‘V’ and his quest to dismantle the fascist government. Directed by James McTeigue and featuring performances from Hugo Weaving and Natalie Portman, this movie challenges viewers to critically assess the role of government, the importance of individual liberties, and the true meaning of freedom.

Throughout these thriller films, notable actors such as Hugh Jackman and Brad Pitt have portrayed characters experiencing paranoia and the consequences of difficult choices. Directors like Darren Aronofsky have also contributed to the genre, crafting narratives that leave audiences questioning their understanding of reality and the human psyche. These movies prompt viewers to engage in critical thinking as they navigate intricate plotlines, consider ethical dilemmas, and grapple with philosophical questions.

Appreciating Movies as Art and Stories

Cinema has long been revered as both an art form and a means of storytelling. It provides a unique platform that combines visuals, sound, and narrative to convey powerful messages and evoke emotions. Throughout time, different genres and styles have emerged to challenge audiences’ perspectives, offering thought-provoking experiences.

One exceptional example of artistic storytelling is the film The Lion King . This animated classic transcends its medium by delivering a rich, thought-provoking tale that delves into themes like family, leadership, and the circle of life. The film’s visually stunning animation and evocative score also demonstrate how the art of cinema can elevate a story to new heights.

In recent years, the exploration of artificial intelligence in movies has sparked critical thinking and raised ethical questions. For instance, Ex Machina is a visually captivating and intelligent science fiction film that delves into the complexities of human-like AI. The movie invites viewers to ponder the implications of creating and interacting with such technology, as well as the potential consequences that may arise.

When it comes to appreciating movies as art, the attention to detail in cinematography, sound design, and character development is vital. These elements work cohesively to create an immersive experience that allows the viewer to engage with the story. For instance, beautifully shot landscapes and meticulously curated sets often transport audiences to different worlds, while carefully crafted characters elicit empathy and spark debate.

Moreover, understanding the theme or underlying message of a film further enhances the appreciation of movies as both art and story. These themes can range from societal issues such as poverty or discrimination to existential topics like the value of memories or the nature of time. By paying attention to the intent and vision of the filmmakers, viewers can gain a deeper understanding of the artwork and its significance.

In conclusion, the art of cinema offers a unique platform for telling thought-provoking stories that challenge and inspire the audience. By appreciating the artistic elements and themes present in movies, viewers can engage in critical thinking and find meaning in the stories shared on the big screen. [url=” https://www.theodysseyonline.com/movies-for-critical-thinkers “]

Educational and inspirational movies play a significant role in fostering critical thinking skills among audiences. These films challenge the viewer’s perspectives and encourage them to analyze complex situations or ideas. By stimulating intellectual curiosity, these movies serve as a valuable addition to educational resources.

Inception, for example, is a well-known critical thinking movie that involves puzzling concepts and intricate storytelling. It pushes the viewers to delve deep into their thought process and keep up with the movie’s intricate plot. Another great example is Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, a romantic science-fiction film that utilizes a nonlinear storyline to promote critical thinking by constantly challenging the viewers’ beliefs.

Empowering movies such as Good Will Hunting and Forrest Gump also instigate critical thinking while evoking themes of acceptance, loyalty, and appreciation. These must-watch critical thinking movies demonstrate the power of human resilience in overcoming personal and societal obstacles.

Finally, the benefits of critical thinking are not restricted to fictional movies alone. Films like Queen of Katwe, based on true stories of perseverance, showcase the value of strategic thinking and problem-solving skills through engaging chess games .

In summary, the captivating world of movies offers a vast array of films that foster critical thinking while providing audiences with thought-provoking and gratifying experiences. Whether they are fictional stories, biographical dramas, or even documentaries, these movies effectively serve as both educational and inspirational resources in today’s world.

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Critical thinking definition

Critical thinking, as described by Oxford Languages, is the objective analysis and evaluation of an issue in order to form a judgement.

Active and skillful approach, evaluation, assessment, synthesis, and/or evaluation of information obtained from, or made by, observation, knowledge, reflection, acumen or conversation, as a guide to belief and action, requires the critical thinking process, which is why it's often used in education and academics.

Some even may view it as a backbone of modern thought.

However, it's a skill, and skills must be trained and encouraged to be used at its full potential.

People turn up to various approaches in improving their critical thinking, like:

Developing technical and problem-solving skills
Engaging in more active listening
Actively questioning their assumptions and beliefs
Seeking out more diversity of thought
Opening up their curiosity in an intellectual way etc.

Is critical thinking useful in writing?

Critical thinking can help in planning your paper and making it more concise, but it's not obvious at first. We carefully pinpointed some the questions you should ask yourself when boosting critical thinking in writing:

What information should be included?
Which information resources should the author look to?
What degree of technical knowledge should the report assume its audience has?
What is the most effective way to show information?
How should the report be organized?
How should it be designed?
What tone and level of language difficulty should the document have?

Usage of critical thinking comes down not only to the outline of your paper, it also begs the question: How can we use critical thinking solving problems in our writing's topic?

Let's say, you have a Powerpoint on how critical thinking can reduce poverty in the United States. You'll primarily have to define critical thinking for the viewers, as well as use a lot of critical thinking questions and synonyms to get them to be familiar with your methods and start the thinking process behind it.

Are there any services that can help me use more critical thinking?

We understand that it's difficult to learn how to use critical thinking more effectively in just one article, but our service is here to help.

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'Barbie' Review: Greta Gerwig’s World of Plastic Is Fantastic

Starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling, Greta Gerwig turns 'Barbie' into much more than just a toy commercial.

The Big Picture

Barbie , directed by Greta Gerwig, is a comedy that explores the difficulties of being a woman and the absurdity of trying to be perfect.
The film uses pointed jokes to discuss sexism and womanhood.
Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling deliver fantastic performances as Barbie and Ken in a film that both praises and critiques the iconic doll.

In the over sixty years since Barbie was first released, there have been many differing opinions on the incredibly popular doll . Some have seen Mattel’s creation as a sign of empowerment, an example to young girls showing that they can become anything they want to be, while others have seen it as a symbol of impossible standards and outdated ideals. Barbie could’ve easily been little more than a toy ad, but through director and co-writer Greta Gerwig , it becomes an existential look at the difficulties of being a woman, the terrifying nature of life in general, the understanding that trying to be perfect is absurd, while also encapsulating everything that Barbie has meant to people—both good and bad. But amongst all this, Gerwig makes Barbie one of the funniest comedies of the year, a delightfully strange adventure that gets weirder at every turn. Barbie has always contained multitudes and, fittingly, so does Gerwig’s excellent third film.

Barbie suffers a crisis that leads her to question her world and her existence.

What Is 'Barbie' About?

Margot Robbie stars as Barbie, the iconic doll who lives in Barbie Land with the other Barbies (played by Emma Mackey , Hari Nef , Alexandra Shipp , and many, many others), where they all have the best day of their life every day. In this land, the Barbies rule, as they have a Barbie president ( Issa Rae ), they run the land’s congress, and win Nobel Prizes daily. The Barbies believe that their example of a female-run world has been an inspiration to the Real World, which they assume is also run by empowered women. Barbie Land also has its share of Kens, who only have a good day if Barbie notices them. Ken ( Ryan Gosling ) is in love with Robbie’s Barbie, and fights for her attention with Ken ( Simu Liu ) when he’s not doing his job of “beach.”

After yet another incredible day in Barbie Land, Robbie’s Barbie mentions that she’s been thinking about death, which stops her grand, choreographed dance party at her Barbie mansion dead in its tracks. The next morning, nothing is right. Her shower is cold, she falls off her roof, and her feet are no longer perfectly shaped to fit her high heels. To find out what’s going wrong, she’s told by Weird Barbie ( Kate McKinnon )—who knows of the human world all too well after being played with too hard—that she must go to the Real World and find the girl who is playing with her. Clearly, this girl is also having these negative feelings, and things won’t be right with Barbie until things are repaired. To fix her world, Barbie and Gosling’s Ken go to the Real World to find Barbie’s owner , but in doing so, they both find a world that couldn’t be more different than their own.

Greta Gerwig Is the Perfect Filmmaker to Tell This Story

Barbie is ambitious in its approach to the quintessential toy, and this story simply wouldn’t work without the direction of Gerwig and her and Noah Baumbach ’s bonkers script. Barbie balances the incredibly pointed specificity of the jokes and relatability of Lady Bird , with the celebration of women and the ability to show a new angle of something we thought we knew like we saw with Gerwig’s take on Little Women . Gerwig and Baumbach manage to make this not feel like a toy ad, but rather, a discussion of sexism and womanhood that’s also hysterical and extremely odd. This is a film that balances jokes about Ken being good at his job of “beach,” with references to Marcel Proust and Stephen Malkmus. It’s almost shocking how much this duo gets away with in this script, and in certain moments, like a major speech by America Ferrera ’s Gloria, who works at Mattel, it’s beautiful that some of these scenes can exist in a big-budget summer film like this. While many have tried to get this idea off the ground and running, it’s hard to imagine anyone doing it with as much skill and care as Gerwig and Baumbach do here.

Gerwig’s direction here is also terrific, as she’s able to make Barbie Land feel real, with production designer Sarah Greenwood and set decorator Katie Spencer doing unbelievable work throughout. Gerwig’s work behind the camera is vibrant and bold, and it’s great to see her have such a massive canvas to play with. Gerwig’s handling of this story can’t help but remind of the eye-popping colors of Jacques Demy films like The Young Girls of Rochefort or The Umbrellas of Cherbourg , fantasy numbers that feel right out of An American in Paris , and the perfectly constructed offices of Mattel in the real world feel like Jacques Tati ’s PlayTime . Barbie also uses its superb soundtrack, from Mark Ronson and Andrew Wyatt , to elevate this story in brilliant ways. For example, Lizzo ’s “Pink” almost acts as a narrator to Barbie’s plight at the beginning of the film, while Billie Eilish’s “What Was I Made For?” is a pitch-perfect addition to one of the movie’s most moving scenes . Again, it’s this consideration and intentional placement of all these elements that Gerwig adds to the film that makes this feel like more than just “a film about Barbie.”

The only segment of Barbie that doesn’t work as well as it maybe should is the addition of Mattel into this narrative . Will Ferrell appears as the CEO of Mattel, and his all-male boardroom attempts to get Barbie back to the Real World, lest the world finds out how easy it is for toys to come into our world. It’s an admirable addition, with Gerwig commenting on how this girl’s toy is largely created by men and how hypocritical that can be. While that’s certainly worth adding to this story, the film frequently returns to these characters, and especially by the end , they seem to be more of a burden to the story of Ken and Barbie than actually a useful addition. They’ve made their point, and yet, the film continually comes back to them in a way it probably doesn’t need to. But again, this is a minor complaint, and it’s at least impressive that Gerwig and Baumbach were able to get away with making the company behind this film part of the inherent problem with this icon in the first place.

Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling are Tremendous as Barbie and Ken

Of course, Barbie would be nothing without Barbie, and Robbie is simply incredible in the title role. Robbie can represent everything this toy has meant to people, as we watch this plaything become human, in her own way . Robbie is very funny when she needs to be, but we can feel the weight of this character learning that the world isn’t what she always hoped it would be. She discovers she might not be the icon of change that she thought she was and begins to understand just how terrifying change can be. It’s as if Gerwig and Baumbach are diving into everything this character has meant over the decades and how that has and hasn’t worked, and Robbie encompasses that perfectly. She has often excelled in these types of roles where we see the power a woman truly has in her environment, but there might not be a better example of that than in Barbie.

Gosling is equally fantastic as Ken, a lovable idiot who thinks the patriarchy has something to do with horses and men ruling the world together . Ken seeing the power that men have in the real world and embracing it could’ve been abrasive, but Gosling always manages to make this character goofy and understandable. As a character who just wants to be seen, our world makes Ken into a person with power like he’s always wanted. Gosling is always great when he embraces comedy, like we’ve seen with The Nice Guys and moments of La La Land , but Ken allows Gosling to go broad in a way that we’ve never seen him go before, and the result is charming, bizarre, and one of the most hysterical performances of the year.

In the months since Barbie came out, after the Barbenheimer fad died down and after the film would go on to become one of the most successful films of all-time, what’s most impressive about Barbie is that it exists in this form at all . Gerwig knows that this is a film that the world will be against (“a movie about a toy ??“), and yet, she handles every aspect with an impeccable consideration and brilliance that it’s hard not to admire what she’s crafted here. But beyond worrying about if certain lines were written by her or Baumbach, or complaining that the feminism doesn’t go far enough, or even for it’s criticism of Mattel, the company still had to sign off on it—it’s still incredible this movie exists and was as successful as it was. This is a film that manages to explore the conflicting ideals of what Barbie means, while also making patriarchy (and how stupid it inherently is) the primary villain. Gerwig has always been outstanding at telling beautiful and daring stories, and she’s managed to do that, while also bringing a larger commentary to this iconic toy—in a film told from the viewpoint of a plastic doll.

It’s easy to be cynical about a film like Barbie , a film that has at least partially been made to sell toys and even makes Mattel a part of the actual story. But Barbie is also an example of how getting the right people behind an unusual idea can make something truly beautiful come out of it, much like The Lego Movie or The Social Network before it. Gerwig has created a film that takes Barbie, praises its contribution as an idea to our world, but also criticizes its faults, while also making a film that celebrates being a woman and all the difficulties and beauty that includes. This also manages to be a film that feels decidedly in line with Gerwig’s previous films as she continues her streak as one of the most exciting filmmakers working today. Barbie could’ve just been a commercial, but Gerwig makes this life of plastic into something truly fantastic .

Greta Gerwig's Barbie is an impressive feat, adapting the unadaptable into a hilarious and surprising emotional experience.

Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling bring plastic characters to life, giving them each one of their best performances.
Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach's screenplay hits just the right tone of absurd and emotional honesty.
From the music to the incredible set design, Barbie is impressive in every aspect.
The Mattel storyline, featuring Will Ferrell, feels unnecessary in the larger scope of this story.

Barbie is now available to stream on Max in the U.S.

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‘The Beach Boys’ Review: The New Documentary on Disney+ Captures Their Story Note for Dreamy Note

It's a conventional portrait that really gets the Beach Boys, capturing their saga in archival photographs and critical voices that illuminate their magic.

By Owen Gleiberman

Owen Gleiberman

Chief Film Critic

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LOS ANGELES - 1966: Singer and mastermind Brian Wilson of the rock and roll band "The Beach Boys" directs from the control room while recording the album "Pet Sounds" in 1966 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)

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I never knew, for instance, that Brian, as a teenager, was so obsessed with the Four Freshman that he sat down at the piano to nail down the precise arrangement of the dizzying jazz-meets-big-band harmonies of 20 of the group’s songs, a process that he says “was my entire harmonic education.” I knew that “Pet Sounds,” one of the greatest albums ever made, was a heartbreaking commercial failure, but I didn’t know that Capitol Records was so unenthusiastic about the album that they refused to put any promotional muscle behind it. (If the company had believed in it more, who knows what would have happened? Music history might have been different.)

I didn’t know that the Beach Boys were set to headline Saturday night of the Monterey Pop Festival but dropped out, all but stamping themselves as relics in the new age of rock. I didn’t know that Murry Wilson, the Wilson brothers’ father, Svengali manager, and all-around micro-critical and doting/abusive presence, decided to cash in by selling the Beach Boys’ song catalog…for $700,000. (Today it would easily be worth half a billion.) I didn’t register, in the midst of the Beach Boys’ catchy but lackadaisical ’70s albums, what a paradigm-shifting phenomenon the 1974 greatest-hits double album “Endless Summer” was. I remember when it came out, but the documentary shows you that it was, in effect, the original jukebox musical, an album that reconfigured the Beach Boys’ majesty for a new era.

For all that, the best thing about “The Beach Boys” is that it actually takes in the group through a sharp and sophisticated critical lens. I’m more than capable of enjoying a pop-music documentary that’s a little too starry-eyed for its own good, like “Billie Eilish: The World’s a Little Blurry” or “Coldplay: A Head Full of Dreams” or “ZZ Top: That Little Ol’ Band from Texas” or “Pink: All I Know So Far” or “The Greatest Night in Pop.” But I’m also on record as complaining that too many of these movies now leave out any critical perspective — and by that I don’t just mean recognizing when an artist fails. I mean filling in, with passionate and penetrating commentary, what it is that makes them great.

Brian heard it as a concept album, unified by sound and theme. He knew then that that’s where he wanted to go. There’s a good story about how Bruce Johnston, who by 1966 had joined the group, was trying in an underfunded way to get the word out about “Pet Sounds” in England. Derek Taylor, who’d been a publicist for the Beatles and was now doing that job for the Beach Boys (he was the one who came up with the “Brian is a genius” meme), invited Johnston up to a hotel suite, where John Lennon and Paul McCartney were waiting for him, “dressed in Edwardian suits,” all so that they could hear “Pet Sounds.” They listened to it several times and went into the studio to record “Sgt. Pepper.”

“The Beach Boys” captures the glories of Brian working with the Wrecking Crew on “Pet Sounds,” the way that “Smile” grew beyond him (the movie should have mentioned that the completed version of “Smile” released in 2004 was a transcendent vindication of Brian’s vision), and the teasing hit-or-miss quality of the albums they made after that. If you listen to some of the best songs on those albums, like “Feel Flows” and “Forever,” they show you how the other Beach Boys had learned to compose in the style of Brian. Yet no one could orchestrate a song in three astral dimensions the way he could.

Even Brian, after a while, couldn’t do it anymore. If you listen to a song like “Darlin’,” which closes out the movie (we see the Beach Boys performing it in front of 400,000 people in Washington, D.C., on July 4, 1980), it’s got the Brian magic, but the magic has been brought down to earth. It no longer lifts you up into the stratosphere. By the late ’70s, the Beach Boys had become the first pop superstars of nostalgia. They surfed their own legend. Then again, when talking about the Beach Boys, one should probably be suspicious of a word like nostalgia, when what we really mean is timeless.

Reviewed online, May 23, 2024. MPA rating: PG-13. Running time: 113 MIN.

Production: A Disney+ release of a K/M, White Horse Pictures, Iconic Artists Group production, in association with Diamond Docs. Producers: Frank Marshall, Irving Azoff, Nicholas Ferrall, Jeanne Elfant Festa, Aly Parker. Executive producer: Nigel Sinclair.
Crew: Directors: Frank Marshall, Thom Zimny. Screenplay: Mark Monroe. Editors: Jake Hostetter, Robert A. Martinez. Music: Mike McCready, the Beach Boys.
With: Mike Love, Brian Wilson, Al Jardine, Don Was, David Marks, Josh Kun, Ryan Tedder, Lindsey Buckingham, Janelle Monáe, Blondie Chaplin, Marilyn Wilson-Rutherford, Don Randi, Bruce Johnston.

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Critical Thinking (film)
Critical Thinking is a 2020 American biographical drama film based on the true story of the 1998 Miami Jackson High School chess team, the first inner-city team to win the U.S. National Chess Championship.. Critical Thinking was directed by John Leguizamo (in his directorial debut), written by Dito Montiel, and stars Leguizamo alongside Jorge Lendeborg Jr., Angel Bismark Curiel, Will Hochman ...
Critical Thinking movie review (2020)
The film is barely 15 minutes old when this happens, but it immediately establishes that "Critical Thinking" has no plans of abandoning reality for its feel-good message. That sense of realism extends to the way the characters bond with, rib, and defend each other. Additionally, Leguizamo plays Martinez as someone who understands the ...
Critical Thinking (2020)
Critical Thinking: Directed by John Leguizamo. With John Leguizamo, Rachel Bay Jones, Michael Kenneth Williams, Corwin C. Tuggles. The true story of the Miami Jackson High School chess team which was the first inner city team to win the U.S. National Chess Championship.
Critical Thinking
Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 09/10/23 Full Review Ball S John Leguizamo's Critical Thinking is a strategic crowd-pleaser. Rated 4.5/5 Stars • Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 04/08/23 Full ...
'Critical Thinking' Review: All the Right Moves
Critical Thinking Not rated. Running time: 1 hour 57 minutes. Running time: 1 hour 57 minutes. Watch through virtual cinemas, or rent or buy on iTunes , Google Play and other streaming platforms ...
'Critical Thinking' Review: John Leguizamo's High-School ...
Courtesy of Vertical Entertainment/YouTube. " Critical Thinking " is one of those up-from-the-streets high-school competition movies where just mentioning the true story it's based on kind ...
Critical Thinking Movie Review
Parents need to know that Critical Thinking is a fact-based drama about a high school chess team from an underserved community that defies the odds to make it to the U.S. National Chess Championship. Directed by and starring John Leguizamo, the movie has frequent swearing ("f--k," "s--t," etc.), underage cigarette smoking, drug dealing, punching, strangling, and gun violence that results in death.
Everything You Need to Know About Critical Thinking Movie (2020)
Across the Web. Critical Thinking in US theaters September 4, 2020 starring John Leguizamo, Rachel Bay Jones, Michael Kenneth Williams, Jorge Lendeborg Jr.. Based on a true story from 1998, five LatinX and Black teenagers from the toughest underserved ghetto in Miami fight their way into the Nati.
Critical Thinking (2020)
Critical Thinking (2020) - Plot summary, synopsis, and more... Menu. Movies. ... Critical Thinking. Edit. Summaries. The true story of the Miami Jackson High School chess team which was the first inner city team to win the U.S. National Chess Championship. Miami - 1998. Poverty, broken families, and a prejudiced system push underprivileged ...
Movie Review
Critical Thinking, 2020. Directed by John Leguizamo. Starring John Leguizamo, Rachel Bay Jones, Michael Kenneth Williams, Corwin C. Tuggles, Jorge Lendeborg Jr ...
Critical Thinking
Production Company Critical thinking, Cinema Veritas, Hialeah Park Studios, NRSP, Perfect Balance. Release Date Sep 4, 2020. Duration 1 h 57 m. Rating Not Rated. Genres. Drama. Tagline Chess is the great equalizer. Based on a true story from 1998, five LatinX and Black teenagers from the toughest underserved ghetto in Miami fight their way into ...
‎Critical Thinking (2020) directed by John Leguizamo • Reviews, film
Cast. John Leguizamo Rachel Bay Jones Michael Kenneth Williams Corwin C. Tuggles Jorge Lendeborg Jr. Angel Bismark Curiel Will Hochman Jeffry Batista Zora Casebere Ramses Jimenez Todd Allen Durkin Brandon Somers Isaac Beverly Ruben E. A. Brown Sydney Arroyo Carlos Guerrero Michele Lepe Tatum Price. 117 mins More at IMDb TMDb.
Critical Thinking (2020)
Find trailers, reviews, synopsis, awards and cast information for Critical Thinking (2020) - John Leguizamo on AllMovie - In the late-1990s, the Miami Jackson High School,…
'Critical Thinking' Review: John Leguizamo Turns Inner-City ...
There are plenty of movies where inner-city kids with troubled lives get inspired by their teachers. But you've never seen one like Critical Thinking, which takes that formula and puts a different ...
Critical Thinking: Is the 2020 Movie Based on Real Chess Players?
December 15, 2022. Directed by John Leguizamo, 'Critical Thinking' is a 2020 sports film that follows a group of kids from Miami Jackson High School trying to win the National Chess Championship. Led by Mario Martinez, the team comprises Sedrick Roundtree, Marcel Martinez, Gilbert Luna, Rodelay Medina, and Olemy Paniagua.
Critical Thinking
The intellectual sport of chess teaches patience, the importance of rational thinking, consequences, and how to re-strategize when an obstacle presents itself. Pair that with a passionate teacher whose faith in his students' abilities is unwavering and you get the true story behind Critical Thinking.
Film Review: CRITICAL THINKING (2020): A By-The-Books ...
Critical Thinking (2020) Film Review, a movie directed by and starring John Leguizamo, and also starring Rachel Bay Jones, Michael Kenneth Williams, Corwin C. Tuggles, Jorge Lendeborg Jr., Angel ...
The True Story Behind Critical Thinking, Movie Based in Miami
The characters in the movie are based on former students at Miami Jackson who took a chess class called Critical Thinking that was taught by coach Mario Martinez. The real-life chess players have ...
Watch Critical Thinking
An unwavering teacher and his students must overcome the perils in their underserved community as they compete in a national chess tournament. Watch trailers & learn more.
Critical Thinking
Critical Thinking. 2020, NR, 117 min. Directed by John Leguizamo. Starring John Leguizamo, Rachel Bay Jones, Michael Kenneth Williams, Corwin C. Tuggles, Jorge Lendeborg Jr.. REVIEWED By Matthew ...
Critical Thinking streaming: where to watch online?
Show all movies in the JustWatch Streaming Charts. Streaming charts last updated: 1:16:36 PM, 05/23/2024 . Critical Thinking is 8632 on the JustWatch Daily Streaming Charts today. The movie has moved up the charts by 3968 places since yesterday. In the United States, it is currently more popular than The Portrait but less popular than Brain Freeze.
Best Movies for Critical Thinking: Top Picks to Challenge Your Mind
5.1 Inception. 5.2 Being John Malkovich. 5.3 Shutter Island. 6 Critical Thinking in Time and Space Movies. 6.1 Predestination. 6.2 Interstellar. 6.3 2001: A Space Odyssey. 7 Movies Encouraging Reflection on Self and Humanity. 7.1 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.
Using Critical Thinking in Essays and other Assignments
Critical thinking, as described by Oxford Languages, is the objective analysis and evaluation of an issue in order to form a judgement. Active and skillful approach, evaluation, assessment, synthesis, and/or evaluation of information obtained from, or made by, observation, knowledge, reflection, acumen or conversation, as a guide to belief and action, requires the critical thinking process ...
New Episode: The Tragic Death of Critical Thinking
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